Samsung Electro-Mechanics, the electronics component manufacturing arm of the Korean giant, had filed a utility patent for a “camera module and portable electronic device including the same” with the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) back in October 2020. The patent was granted and added to the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) last week. The accompanying 19-page documentation revealed the company’s plans for this movable camera design for smartphones.
Samsung patents a movable camera design for smartphones
The patent documentation shows three cameras consisting of a wide-angle primary shooter, an ultrawide camera, and a telephoto lens. The main camera is placed in the center, flanked by the other two lenses on either side. Each lens has a different field of view (FoV). Samsung could also use some other lens type or add more cameras to the setup though. By default, the camera array will sit horizontally on the back of the device. But the user could trigger a movement of the lenses with on-screen controls to form a triangle. The main camera slides straight down from its original position at the center. At the same time, the other two lenses will move towards each other in the same line. As the cameras change their position, their aperture also changes. For the uninitiated, the aperture is the size of the opening through which light enters a camera. A wider opening means more light can reach the sensor and hence better low-light pictures. A wide aperture is also beneficial for portrait photography as the focus area is small. However, if you want to capture a landscape, a narrow aperture is desirable so you can get more of your scene in focus. Per the documentation, Samsung plans to offer two different aperture values for all the lenses. The cameras will have the widest aperture when in their default position. Users could trigger a movement of the lenses for a narrower aperture. This will allow for improved picture quality in all shooting conditions. As LetsGoDigital, who discovered this patent, notes, a movable camera setup helps with zooming as well.
There might be some time before this concept becomes a reality
Cameras have become one of the biggest selling points of a smartphone. People now want better cameras in their pockets and OEMs are responding to it as well. This patent from Samsung is another example that smartphone manufacturers want to offer the best solution to their customers. The Korean behemoth has previously offered a camera with a variable aperture with its Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S10. However, with all cameras having a variable aperture, the company plans to take smartphone photography to a whole new level. That said, it might take some time before this movable camera design from Samsung becomes a reality. There are durability and efficiency concerns among other things. Time will tell if the company ever pursues this design or it’s one of those patents where it only remains a patent. Xiaomi has also patented a somewhat similar movable camera design for smartphones. We will be keeping an eye on if the Chinese company proceeds to make its design a reality anytime soon.
